Fiji News

million dollar reward package announced

prIMe Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has announced a million dollar reward package for the Fiji 7s men’s and Fijiana teams.

Mr Bainimarama, on his official social media Facebook account, said the package would also include helping the men’s captain Jerry Tuwai with a house.

“Rugby doesn’t just let us forget our troubles, it inspires us to overcome them,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“The victories of our men’s 7s and Fijiana have inspired us all. To give back, we’re announcing a million dollar reward package for these heroes.”

Tuwai’s father, Poasa Vunisa, said they were blessed to have heard of this good news. “We are blessed.

This has showed God’s unfailing love for us and to Jerry,” he said.

Fiji Rugby Union CEO John O’Connor said they would release the breakdown of the announcement soon.

urgent request for volunteers to donate blood

To address the continuing shortage of blood in the country, the Fiji Red Cross Society is working with the Fiji National Blood Service to recruit more blood donors.

Blood is needed every day for pregnant mothers, accident victims, cancer patients, complications of diabetes and patients who need surgery.

The Fiji Red Cross Society says over a hundred volunteers have undergone comprehensive training and will be recruiting blood donors across the country through the use of telephones.

If you want to help and donate blood, you can call 8903885 if you live in the Central Division, 992 0297 if you live in the Western Division and 999 2464 if you live in the Northern Division.

You can also register online through the Fiji Red Cross Facebook page.

Fiji National Blood Service Director Josefa Bolaqace says those who are concerned about whether it’s safe to donate blood during this pandemic can be assured that their blood drive will follow the highest standards of safety and infection control.

He stresses that individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are still eligible to donate blood, however, a person would need to wait seven days after getting the vaccine before donating.

Fiji Red Cross Society Director-General, Ilisapeci Rokotunidau says with the current challenges of COVID-19, it is critical that people do not stop donating now.

cOVID-19: Fiji announces 752 new cases and 7 deaths

FIjI has reported 752 new COVID-19 cases for the 24hour period that ended at 8am today.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said 88 cases were from the Western Division and 664 cases from the Central Division.

Dr Fong also reported 7 new deaths for the period July 10 to August 5 – six deaths reported in the Central Division and one death in the Western Division.

Below are the details of the deceased persons provided this evening:

A 75-year-old man from Tailevu. He presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress. His condition worsened at the medical facility and he died on the same day (05/08/2021). He received the first dose of the vaccine in mid-July. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine. This means that he was not fully vaccinated;

A 53-year-old man from Nausori who died at home on 04/08/2021. He was not vaccinated;

A 58-year-old man from Vatuwaqa who died at home on 05/08/2021. He was not vaccinated;

A 52-year-old man from Naitasiri. He presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress. His condition worsened at the medical facility and he died on the same day (05/08/2021). He was not vaccinated;

A 48-year-old man from Narere who died at home on 05/08/2021. He was not vaccinated;

A 49-year-old woman from Nadi who presented to the Nadi Sub-Divisional Hospital with an altered level of consciousness. Her family reported that she was noted to be unwell one day prior to her presentation. Her condition worsened in the hospital and she died on the same day (04/08/2021). She was not vaccinated; and

A 78-year-old man from Cunningham. He presented to the CWM hospital in severe respiratory distress. His condition worsened at the hospital and he died 14 days after admission (10/07/2021). He was not vaccinated.

Some updated statistics provided this evening (as at 8am, August 6):

752 new cases as at 8am 7 COVID deaths reported from July 10-August 5 268 new recoveries reported since the last update (Aug 5) 23,696 active cases – Central Division – 18,967 active cases; Western Division – 4729 35,570 cases recorded during the outbreak that started in April 2021 35,640 cases in total recorded in in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 11,501 recoveries 7 more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients reported (classified as nonCOVID deaths) 290 deaths due to COVID-19 recorded in Fiji 288 of those deaths recorded during the outbreak that started in April this year, and 153 COVID-19 positive patients died from the serious medical conditions they had before they contracted COVID-19

Source: Ministry of Health PS Dr James Fong, COVID-19 Update, August 6 (2021)

Fiji Airways clarifies leases

FIjI Airways has said it had recently returned two A330200 aircraft that were on lease an all its other A350 and Boeing 737 MAX fleet remains with the company.

The company offered the clarification after the Attorney- General and Minister for Civil Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, had said in Parliament in May that Fiji Airways couldn’t return leased aircraft.

“In respect of new leases of aircraft, Mr Speaker, sir, you simply cannot just lease an aircraft today and say, “Oh, I do not want it tomorrow and give it away. There are penalties to be paid. It is not like me going to buy a hire purchase for a bed from Courts. This is an aircraft, it costs hundreds and millions of dollars,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had told Parliament on May 27.

This newspaper asked Fiji Airways to clarify what aircraft the minister was referring to in the Parliament statement which couldn’t be returned?

“Clarifying that the aircraft being referred to are the A350 and Boeing 737 MAX fleet,” said a company spokesperson.

The two leased A330-200 aircraft, the Island of Beqa and Island of Vatulele, have been returned a few months ahead of its end of lease.

The two aircraft joined the Fiji Airways fleet in May and July, 2018 as part of a short-term lease from the lessor.

Fiji Airways has not responded to our query on whether the company has paid any penalty for returning the planes early.

Plans for Olympic celebration once 80% of adults are fully vaccinated – PM

prIMe Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says they will plan for a proper celebration for our Fiji 7s teams when at least 80 percent of Fijian adults are fully vaccinated.

He made the comment while announcing a milliondollar reward package for our Fiji 7s teams.

He adds there are enough vaccines for every eligible Fijian and people should continue with their lifesaving work of protecting Fijians through vaccination.

The Fiji Men’s 7s team players and team management will receive $33,000 each for getting gold while the Fijiana 7s team players and team